Consequences of ceding the moral high ground...

The lawyers of three Catholics on death row will take their case before the International Criminal Court in Geneva, as per a human rights convention ratified by Jakarta, to safeguard the three men’s right to life and to denounce irregularities of Indonesian trials. This was revealed yesterday in the capital by Peter Selestianus SH, chairman of PADMA (the lawyers’ organization defending the three men).

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwa were condemned to death because they were found guilty of masterminding a massacre of 200 Muslims in Poso during inter-faith clashes in 2000. Their case has drawn international attention: they were convicted by a trial riddled with illegalities, like witnesses who were not listened to and evidence that was rejected by the court. Even the pope called on the Indonesian president Susilo to grant clemency to the three Catholics.

Selestianus said Muchtar Pakpahan SH, a human rights activist, would take PADMA’s message to Geneva, explaining that the decision had been taken “to bring to light the injustices taking place in Indonesian trials.”
The lawyer said “the death penalty of the three Catholics goes against humanity and is an enormous abuse of human rights. The International Criminal Court has the authority to review the verdict.”

In the meantime, rumours continue to abound about the “imminent” execution of the three men. The date for their execution had originally been set for 12 August and has been postponed in extremis. A reliable source of the central Sualwesi police confirmed that a meeting has taken place between the police chief of the province, Superintendent Badrotin Haiti, and his counterpart for Palu, Mahfud Mannan SH.

The meeting behind closed doors was held on 14 September to seek to hasten the execution date. The source said the two men “expressed a common interest in killing the three Catholics. It appears they have proposed that the execution should take place immediately after the holy month of Ramadan but the exact date and place were not decided.”

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So we've got a nation holding terrorism suspects on flimsy evidence, and concern that they were the victims of an unfair trial system.

This is what happens when you cede the moral high ground. You help yourself for the day, but hurt yourself in the long run when others claim the same right to do what you do.

Do what I say, not what I do? Is that about the only objection we can raise to what appears to be an injustice?

Im surprised no ones talking about the Canadian, given to the U.S. and then sent to Syria for torture? Not to change this subject but its related. He was inocent by the way for you I want to Torture George Bush fans.

Three Sulawesi militants executed
Christian protesters in Jakarta, 11/8/06
Christians in Indonesia have protested against the executions
Three Indonesian Christian militants sentenced to death for attacks on Muslims in 2000 have been executed by firing squad.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva were found guilty of inciting attacks during religious rioting in Central Sulawesi in 2000.

The execution was delayed last month after an appeal from the Pope.

Local community leaders have expressed concern that the executions might re-ignite religious violence.

"It has been done... the location was around the airport," a police official who would not give his name told Reuters news agency.

He said the bodies had been taken to a police hospital.

Some 4,000 extra troops had been deployed in religiously-divided Sulawesi to boost security ahead of the executions.

Gang violence

VIOLENT PAST
Map of Indonesia
Previously known as Celebes, Sulawesi is Indonesia's fourth largest island
80% of residents are Muslim, while 17% are Christian
A December 1998 brawl in Poso led to months of religious violence in which hundreds died

The men say they are innocent of the charges that they masterminded a series of attacks on the Muslim community in the Central Sulawesi district of Poso in 2000, killing at least 70 people.

The attack was part of a wave of violence that left more than 1,000 people killed. It was triggered by a brawl between Christian and Muslim gangs in December 1998.

The execution had been due to take place last month, but the three were given a reprieve after a plea for clemency from Pope Benedict XVI and demonstrations by thousands of Indonesian Christians.

The militants' supporters and rights groups have questioned the fairness of the trial.

Three Muslim militants are also currently on death row for their part in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed more than 200 people.

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